The Gunners have lost two in-a-row for the first time this season, and will need to rebound against a very good Portuguese club to keep their title dreams alive in this very important European competition.

On Monday, Mikel Arteta got a boast with Gabriel, Trossard and Rice all returning to the training ground preparing to play on Tuesday night in Lisbon.

With that said, here’s my predicted starting XI v Sporting Lisbon…

[4-3-3]

Trossard, Gyokeres, Madueke

Rice, Odegaard, Zubimendi

Calafiori, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber

Raya

Predicted final score: Sporting Lisbon 1 – ARSENAL 2

VOYG!

Gunner1953

The excuse: Mikel Arteta started only two of his top eleven on Saturday. Why? Well injuries are a big reason. We have players on the injured list, or just back from injuries.

The positives: It was great to see Martin Odegaard back on the pitch. I thought he played very well. And, in my opinion, Max Dowman was Arsenal’s best player on the pitch. The 16-year-old fought until the very end and covered a lot of ground on the St. Mary’s Stadium turf. This kid is so fun to watch. His mindset is to get the ball and attack the defense, a true reminder of how Jack Wilshire played the game.

The negatives: Southampton destroyed the Arsenal defense too many times on the counter-attack. Plus the Saints just seemed more energized and more aggressive. This is a club unbeaten in 15 consecutive matches. Also, let’s not forget Gabriel Magalhaes came off the pitch with a knee problem. Hopefully, it was only precautionary.

The next steps: With Sporting Lisbon on the road this coming Tuesday, Arteta has little time to dwell on Saturday’s loss. It now has to be full steam ahead  with the two season’s biggest competitions still on the table.

The hope: They will bounce back big time on Tuesday. This club is too good to let a two game losing streak put a damper on their season. Are they disappointed, sure, but they should also be focussed on not letting this happening again. Period.

COYG!

Gunner1953

[4-3-3]

Martinelli, Gyokeres, Dowman

Norgaard, Havertz, Lewis-Skelly

Calafiori, Mosquera, Salmon, White

Kepa

Predicted final score: Southampton 0 – ARSENAL 2

COYG!

Gunner1953

Unfortunately, this was not a break that didn’t come with some ill-timed injuries.

Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Piero Hincapie all returned to the Arsenal training center with some form of malady that required immediate attention. Whether or not these injuries prevent these players from taking the pitch in Southampton on Saturday remains a question mark for Mikel Arteta.

What really sucks is that these injuries took place in friendlies, or games that had no meaning to the national teams. As Arsenal prepares for a difficult run-in of fixtures in three competitions, the timing couldn’t be worse.

Unfortunately, the competition on Saturday is Championship side Southampton, who recently found form and remain unbeaten in their last 14 matches. So, obviously, this will not be a just show-up and win match for the Gunners.

I am sure this will be adjusted prior to Saturday, but at this point, this is my crrent proejcted line-up for Saturday…

[4-3-3]

Martinelli, Jesus, Dowman

Norgaard, Havertz, Lewis-Skelly

Calafiori, Mosquera, White, Timber

Kepa

The Gunners current injury list includes the four previously mentioned, plus 7 more.

This is not a great time in the season to have as many injuuries as the club has, but one must go on. It’s now Next Man Up!

Gunner1953

The second half of the Carabao Cup was a shit show for Arsenal. The Gunners were simply out-played, out-coached, out-hustled, out-classed and utterly very, very sloppy and undisciplined with the football.

So, let’s put this match in the rearview mirror and move on, shall we?

Out of the four titles Arsenal was aiming for, the Carabao Cup was 4th on the list. How’s that for rationalization?

Hopefully, what Sunday proved is the Mikel Arteta’s squad can be manipulated and coerced on the pitch. This match has to be a big wake-up call to both the club and its supporters to understand that every match through the end of this season is to be played like a cup final. However, not to be played like Sunday’s cup final.

Can and will AFC still win cups this season? YES! YES! YES!

As Gooners we need to stand behind our boys and give them all the positive energy and support possible, both at home in front of the TY, and in the stadium as well. This is still Arsenal’s season to shine. One loose bolt does not cause a bridge to collapse, so the Carabao Cup Final should not cause this season to collapse either. [Bad analogy? Sorry, best it was the best I could come up with.)

Arteta said it best, “We’ve had a remarkable eight months together, and now there’s the international break. We all go into there with a very hard felling and pain, and we’re going to use that as fuel for the next two months.”

COYG!

Gunner1953

Their opponent, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City!

Obviously, this will not be an easy task for Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal squad. City will come in tough, determined and focussed to show English football who really is king of the hill. However, I think this will be the Gunners year, and this will be a big win for AFC!

With that said, here’s my predicted starting XI for Sunday in Wembley Stadium…

[4-3-3]

Martinelli, Gyokeres, Saka

Rice, Eze, Zubimendi

Hincapie, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber

Kepa

Predicted final score: ARSENAL 2 – Manchester City 1

COYG, IT’S TROPHY DAY!

Gunner1953